Fresh Coconut Milk Substitute
I have a recipe for a coconut cake which calls for fresh coconut milk.If I substitue using canned coconut milk will I get the same results? I really don't want to open fresh coconuts and have to grate the coconut.I prefer purchasing the frozen grated coconut but that eliminates me from getting the coconut milk I need.
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Becca Porter
Mar 12, 2012 02:09 PM
Mark Bittman has a homemade recipe for coconut milk that uses dried unsweetened coconut. You blend it with hot water and then strain. It is great stuff. Need the recipe?
By the way, the stuff inside the coconut is coconut water not coconut milk.
›1 Reply -
AntarcticWidow
Mar 12, 2012 01:35 PM
If your local Asian market carries frozen, grated coconut, they might also carry frozen coconut milk ... ?
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MikeG
Mar 12, 2012 11:14 AM
Somewhere in between fresh grated and canned is "freshly made" from frozen, grated coconut. If the frozen coconut hasn't been mistreated in shipping, it should taste better than canned.
But otherwise, yes, you should get more or less the same results from a good (no thickeners) canned coconut milk. I've found Chaokoh, Chef's Choice and Maesri brand coconut milks to be pretty good. I don't know how thick the milk your recipe calls for is supposed to be, these brands are all quite creamy - but you can always dilute them a little if they seem too thick.
